9.1 Million-Wrongful Death Verdict

Verdict rendered on behalf of a 39 year old man who presented to the hospital and died after there was a delay in diagnosis. Patient went to Sparrow Hospital with flu-like symptoms on July 20, 2003. He had experienced a persistent fever for 10 days prior. After an evaluation by physicians from the Michigan State University Health Team, he was admitted.

He was suffering from a fungal infection known as histoplasmosis; however, it was not timely diagnosed by the internal medicine and infectious disease physicians managing his care.

Adding to his trouble, he had previously been diagnosed for rheumatoid arthritis, and was taking a cocktail of medications known to compromise one's immune system.

In particular, the patient's regime included Remicade, which tests had shown could increase a patient's likelihood of developing life-threatening infections such as histoplasmosis.

One of the treating physicians was aware of the dangers of Remicade, because in October 2001, he received a warning letter from Remicade's manufacturer alerting doctors to the potential dangers.

Nevertheless, the patient was not treated with any antibiotic, antifungal or antiviral medications during the first nine days of his admission. By the time he received any medicine, his systems had begun to fail and it was too late to save him.